Ball distributer.



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M BY ffiw'm' ATTORNEYS PATENTED NOV. 5, 1907 A. KOWASTGH & L. REINIGKE.

BALL DISTRIBUTER APPLIOATION FILED NOV. 3, 1905.

No. 870,108. PATENTED NOV. 5, 1907. A. KOWASTGH & L. REINIGKE.

BALL DISTRIBUTER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. a, 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2,

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UNITED STATES PATENT orrron.

AMBROSE KOWASTCH, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., AND LUDWIG REINIOKE, OF HOBOKEN, NEW

JERSEY.

BALL DISTRIBUTER.

Specification of Letters Patent. V Application filed November 3, 1905. Serial-No. 285.777.

Patented Nov. 5, 1907'.

To all whom 'it may concern: I

Be it known that we, AMBROSE KOWASTCH, a subject of the Emperor of Germany, and a resident of the borough of the Bronx, city, county, and State of New York, and Lunwro Rsrmcxn, a subject of the Emperor of Germany, and a resident of Hoboken, Hudson county, New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ball-Distributers, of which the following is a specification. i

Our invention relates to implements. forholding a number of steel balls such as are used in ball bearings and discharging such balls singly, and our invention also aims to provide means for counting off a certain number of balls, this being an obvious convenience.

In the accompanying drawings we have illustrated several devices embodying our invention.

Figure 1 is an elevation showing one form of our in- .vention, the upper part being shown in section. Fig.

2 is an enlarged sectional elevation of the discharge portion of the apparatus. Fig. 3 is a side view of the parts shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a section on line 44 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section of another form of our invention. Fig. 6 is a cross section on line 6-6 of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is an elevation with parts of section illustrating another form of discharge device, and Fig. 8 is aside view corresponding to. Fig. 7.

In the form of our invention illustrated by Figs. 1 to 4, the discharge end of the apparatus is pointed as shown at A, so that this end may be readily inserted in a ball bearing to properly guide the balls to their place. The device comprises a tube A, which is adapted to contain the customary steel balls, and this tube is provided adjacent to its discharge end, with a lateral opening A into which projects the discharge controlling device. In this instance said device consists of a wheel B, having its periphery notched to correspond to the curvature of the balls as indicated at B. This wheel is pivoted at B upon an arm 0, fulcrumed at C for adjustment upon a bracket D secured to the tube A. Normally the bracket D and arm 0 are connected rigidly, but when it is desired to adjust the wheeLB to able so that if the device is used for balls of different diameters, wheels B of different sizes and having notches B of proper shape may be substituted, the arm C being properly adjusted in such case, and the spring E being also adjusted toward or from the pivot B if necessary. On the tube A is adjustably arranged the slide F carrying a screw F, which is adapted to project into the tube through openings A preferably arranged the slide F in position, but by projecting into the tube in the same manner asillustrated in Fig. 5, serves to divide off a predetermined number of balls between said screw and the discharge device. Said screw therefore performs the function of a counting off or measuring device. With the upper end of the tube A is connected a holder for containing a suitable number of balls. This holder as shown, consists of a spirally grooved member G, the center of which is raised giving the device a somewhat conical shape as shown in Fig. 4. A cover plateG of like shape is arranged adjacent to said spirally grooved member so as to prevent the balls from jumping from one turn of the spiral to the next. At the apex of the cone there is an opening G for the insertion of the balls.

To fill the device it is laid flat as shown at Fig. 4, and the screw F is projected into the tube A. Then the balls are inserted singly through the filling open- -they are stopped by the wheel B. Then the slide F will be adjusted to the desired point, and the screw F projected into the tube so as to separate a certain number of balls from those remaining in the holder and in the tube A above said screw. To then feed the balls singly through thedischarge opening A, the operator turns -the wheel B by hand in the direction indicated by the arrow. This will separate one ball from the others, and allow such ball to escape. The spring E will hold the wheel B steady while not preventing its turning by handf The device may be used for balls of any size up to the maximum size that tube A is capable of receiving; all that is necessary to change insuch case is the wheel B and its position, as well as that of the spring E if required, the fulcrum at O and the adjustment at D allowing the wheel B and the spring E to be brought to the proper position in each case.

In the form of construction shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the tube H has a pointed outlet H and a lateral opening H adjacent thereto. Between the outlet and the body of the tube is adapted to move transversely a discharge plate I normally pressed to a closing position by a spring J, which bears against a bracket H. A lever K, fulcrumed at K engages a projection I on the discharge plate I, and serves to slide it against the tension of the spring, so as to bring the discharge opening 1? into registry with the end of the tube H. With the discharge plate is further connected an arm l the end of which projects beyond the corresponding end of the discharge opening 1 and this arm I is adjustable toward and from the discharge plate I, as shown,

by means of a screw 1 The tube H is provided with a series of apertures H adapted to be engaged by a screwL on a slide L, the construction being similar in this respect to that shown in Fig. 1. Within the tube H are arranged a series of tubes M, all slitted lengthwise, and preferably having their upper ends arranged stepwise, so that each tube may be grasped individually. The slits of the tubes are in registry with each other and with the line of openings H H, so that the arm-I may be projected through said slits and the screw L likewise. In the arrangement shown in Fig. 5, the device has been fitted for the smallest size of balls. The arm I is always adjusted to a distance from the discharge plate I which corresponds to the diameter of one ball. The slide L is adjusted in the same way as previously explained for the slide F and the screw L projected above the last ball as shown. To discharge one of the balls, the lever K is moved inward, thus causing the arm I to first pass between the last two balls, and then bringing the opening 1' into registry with the lower end of the tube, so that the last ball may escape. If a larger size of balls is to be used, the innermost tube M is removed, and the arm I is adjusted upward correspondingly. In the same manner still-larger balls may be accommodated up to asize which fits into the tube H exactly. A cap N may be provided to close the upper end of the device.

In the form of construction illustrated by Figs. 7 and 8, the tube A having openings A, A and A and the slide F provided with the screw F, are practically the same as shown in Fig. 1. The discharge device consists of a lever X pivoted at X to a bracket A, and

having two teeth with a curved notch X between them. The lower tooth is normally projected into the We desire it to be understood that the supplemental tubes M shown in Figs. 5 and 6 may be used in conjunction with the holder A of Figs. 1-, 2, andv 3, the wheel B of the proper size being substituted in each case, with the requisite adjustment ofthe arm C and spring E.

We claim as our invention:

1. A ball dlstributer comprising a tubular ball-holder having apertures at different points of its length. a slide adjustable on the holder, a screw carried by said slide and holder, and a counting-01f device located between the inlet and discharge ends of the holder and separate from the discharge controlling means, .said counting-0d device being adjustable to po.nts at different distances from the dis charge end of the holder and being further provided with a movable part adapted to be projected into the holder or withdrawn therefrom.

4. A ball distributer comprising a tubular ball-holder,

a toothed discharge wheel projecting. into the path of the balls, and a support in which said wheel is journaled, said support being adjustable to carry the wheel toward or from the holder. v

A ball distributer comprising a tubular bull-holder, a tootheddischarge wheel journaled at one side of the holder and projecting into the path of the ballsQand a spring engaging said wheel to prevent accidental movement.

6. A ball distributer comprising a tubular ball-holder, a toothed discharge wheel projecting into the path of the balls, :1 support in which said wheel is journaled, said support being adjustable to carry the wheel toward or from the holder, and a spring engaging said wheel to prevent accidental movement, said spring being adjustable toward and from the wheel's axis.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto signed our names in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

AMBROSE KOWASTCH.

, LUDWIG REINICKE.

Witnesses JOHN A. KnnLnNBscK, JoHN LornA. 

